Les mots pour mesurer en français (Words for Measuring in French)

B1
grammar
quantifiers
measuring
exercises
Author

Kunal Khurana

Published

June 8, 2025

Words for Measuring in French

In French, there are many words used to measure quantities, whether for food, objects, or people. Here are some of the most common:

1. Key Measuring Words

French Expression Meaning Example (French) Example (English)
un kilo (de) a kilogram (of) J’achète un kilo de pommes. I buy a kilogram of apples.
une livre (de) a pound (of) Il prend une livre de tomates. He takes a pound of tomatoes.
un demi-kilo (de) half a kilogram (of) Donnez-moi un demi-kilo de fraises. Give me half a kilo of strawberries.
cent grammes (de) 100 grams (of) Je veux cent grammes de fromage. I want 100 grams of cheese.
un morceau (de) a piece (of) Prends un morceau de gâteau. Take a piece of cake.
une tranche (de) a slice (of) Je mange une tranche de pain. I eat a slice of bread.
un paquet (de) a packet/pack (of) J’achète un paquet de biscuits. I buy a packet of cookies.
un bouquet (de) a bunch (of) Elle offre un bouquet de fleurs. She gives a bunch of flowers.
un tas (de) a pile/heap (of) Il y a un tas de vêtements ici. There is a pile of clothes here.
une foule (de) a crowd (of) Une foule de gens attendent. A crowd of people are waiting.

Note:
- Most of these expressions are followed by “de” + noun (e.g., un kilo de pommes, un paquet de biscuits). - “Une livre” in French means “a pound” (about 500g), not “a book” in this context.

2. How to Use

  • Quantities for food:
    Use “un kilo de”, “une livre de”, “cent grammes de” for weights.
    Ex: un kilo de pommes, une livre de tomates, cent grammes de fromage

  • Pieces and slices:
    Use “un morceau de” for a piece, “une tranche de” for a slice.
    Ex: un morceau de gâteau, une tranche de pain

  • Packets and bunches:
    Use “un paquet de” for a packet, “un bouquet de” for a bunch (usually flowers).
    Ex: un paquet de biscuits, un bouquet de fleurs

  • Heaps and crowds:
    Use “un tas de” for a pile/heap, “une foule de” for a crowd (people).
    Ex: un tas de vêtements, une foule de gens

Exercises

1. Fill in with the correct French measuring word (un kilo, une livre, un demi-kilo, cent grammes, un morceau, une tranche, un paquet, un bouquet, un tas, une foule)

  1. J’achète ________ de pommes. (a kilogram)
  2. Il prend ________ de tomates. (a pound)
  3. Donnez-moi ________ de fraises. (half a kilo)
  4. Je veux ________ de fromage. (100 grams)
  5. Prends ________ de gâteau. (a piece)
  6. Je mange ________ de pain. (a slice)
  7. J’achète ________ de biscuits. (a packet)
  8. Elle offre ________ de fleurs. (a bunch)
  9. Il y a ________ de vêtements ici. (a pile)
  10. ________ de gens attendent. (a crowd)

2. Rewrite the sentences using the indicated measuring word

  1. Je veux une portion de fromage. (cent grammes)
    →
  2. Elle donne des fleurs à sa mère. (un bouquet)
    →
  3. Il mange une part de gâteau. (un morceau)
    →
  4. J’achète beaucoup de biscuits. (un paquet)
    →
  5. Il y a beaucoup de monde dans la rue. (une foule)
    →

3. Translate into French with the correct measuring word

  1. I buy a kilogram of apples.
  2. He takes a pound of tomatoes.
  3. Give me half a kilo of strawberries.
  4. I want 100 grams of cheese.
  5. Take a piece of cake.
  6. I eat a slice of bread.
  7. I buy a packet of cookies.
  8. She gives a bunch of flowers.
  9. There is a pile of clothes here.
  10. A crowd of people are waiting.

Practice: Write Your Own Sentences

Write 3–4 sentences using at least two different French measuring words (un kilo, une livre, un demi-kilo, cent grammes, un morceau, une tranche, un paquet, un bouquet, un tas, une foule). Describe quantities or groups in your daily life.